Waterloo pharmacy offering up alternative during children's pain medication shortage
A Waterloo pharmacist is trying to fill the gap left by the persistent shortage of children’s flu and cold medications.
Phil Hudson, who is also the owner of Beechwood Wellness Pharmacy, is mixing up equivalent products as a temporary solution to the problem.
“We make them at the same strengths that the commercial product will be available at, but we would label them individually for each patient.”
The location is one of the few compounding pharmacies in Waterloo Region that create medications from scratch.
Hudson has been making liquid children’s pain reliever medication since store shelves went bare last month. He’s been getting as many as 20 inquiries a day.
“Many parents are desperate, and they’re desperate because they’ve been to four, five, six pharmacies and none of them have it,” Hudson said.
He warns that it’s not a long-term remedy for the nationwide drug shortage.
No prescription is needed and Hudson will continue to provide this option for families in need for as long as he can.
“When parents don’t know what to do they end up in [the emergency room],” said Kelly Grindrod, a professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy. “They end up at their doctor’s [office] asking for advice and the system doesn’t have capacity.”
She said it’s unclear when we could see children’s medications back in stock and that could be challenging for parents as COVID-19, influenza and RSV circulate in the community.
“This is going to be a difficult viral season for a lot of kids. A lot of things like mask mandates have been dropped and a lot of viruses are spreading through schools, daycares, etc.”
Grindrod is hoping for a more reliable drug supply.
“Really what we’re seeing is just how incredibly important this is for Canadian guardians and parents, and we need to be able to ensure we have access to them.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.